Age testing should be manditory to renew drivers license?

cars · Post by **cars** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 4:38 pm

When renewing driver's licenses, I was going to say after a "certain age" people should be tested for good "eye sight", as well as tested for good reflexes. But as I was writing this, it occured to me that everyone's situations (regardless of age) sometimes changes. Young people can perminently injure their eye(s), or legs, or arms making them somewhat handycapped, but they still do drive. Therefore, it comes down to "unfit" drivers are the one's who should be kept off the roads no matter what their age is.

So testing of all drivers when "renewing" their drivers licenses would seem like a good idea. That would filter out many of the unfit drivers.

Coments /Ideas?

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 4:46 pm

cars;661519 wrote: When renewing driver's licenses, I was going to say after a "certain age" people should be tested for good "eye sight", as well as tested for good reflexes. But as I was writing this, it occured to me that everyone's situations (regardless of age) sometimes changes. Young people can perminently injure their eye(s), or legs, or arms making them somewhat handycapped, but they still do drive. Therefore, it comes down to "unfit" drivers are the one's who should be kept off the roads no matter what their age is.

So testing of all drivers when "renewing" their drivers licenses would seem like a good idea. That would filter out many of the unfit drivers.

Coments /Ideas?

Over here drivers licences are valid until age seventy when you need a doctor's certificate to renew.

Prior to that, if you suffer one of a list of medical conditions then you licence is revoked until you are certified fit to drive.

woppy71 · Post by **woppy71** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 5:03 pm

Well, I expect i'll probably get slated for this, but I think you should have to re-take your test every 5 years regardles of age. Just my thought on the subject

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 6:10 pm

I think it should be required. (I know my mother needs a test........ssh, I didn't say that)

Lene · Post by **Lene** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 6:27 pm

I have my dad living with me and I would be so happy if there was some law in place that made him take a test to determine his driving ability.He is 76....He is stubborn and I can't get him to listen to reason..scary really...

dubs · Post by **dubs** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 6:40 pm

I'm in the process of renewing my licence at the moment. As an Insulin dependant Diabetic, I have to renew my licence, every three years. It's no great problem, basically I have to give the driver agency permission to contact my Doctor, so they can see if I'm controlling the disease properly.

cars · Post by **cars** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:26 am

I am unawear of any requirements for medical suspensions of driver's licenses here in NE. That would be a good thing!

I used to have a next door neighbor that would not ever consider giving up "driving" his big old Lincoln Town Car. He needed to use a "walker" to "slowly" walk, to maintain his stability. As he had many dizzy spells while walking & needed to hold on to that walker. He was 85 going on 86. I mentioned to his son, that he should consider taking away the car keys from his dad. The son said he could not, as his dad was a proud man & did not want to depend on some else to drive him around. His car was parked next to mine in our parking lot. And I saw him several times while trying to get into his car, fall back against my car because he got dizzy. He then regained composure, & got into his car.

I only saw this man drive out of our parking lot. The man had to be a menice on the roads, I reported him to the DMV, so they could arrange a test of his eyesight, & reflexes. Since the DMV took their many months to get around to the matter, in the mean time, my neighbor traveled to the big highway in the sky.

Pheasy · Post by **Pheasy** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:29 am

I would suspect there is none in PA either. When I went to get my PA drivers licence, there was an old man that had to have his wife read the 'Donors' agreement to her cos he could not see. Then picked up his new drivers licence. Needless to say I made sure I left the centre before he did!!

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:35 am

I agree with Woppy, every 5 years would be a good bench mark, wonder how many people would fail?

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:37 am

dubs;661544 wrote: I'm in the process of renewing my licence at the moment. As an Insulin dependant Diabetic, I have to renew my licence, every three years. It's no great problem, basically I have to give the driver agency permission to contact my Doctor, so they can see if I'm controlling the disease properly.

I've really been thinking about this whole topic. I can go either way on it so far. I don't like the diabetic thing because that seems like the DMV has to "police" your personal business. What do they do for epileptics for example over there, Dubs? Offhand I can't think of any other medical condition to ask about...but their checking up on you seems discriminatory and invasive to me.

And I'm a diabetic too, not sure if that has anything to do with why I feel that way though. Expanding on that, where does it stop? I have degenerative arthritis in both ankles thanks to a birth defect and my driving ankle freezes up on me, and hurts badly when that happens. If that happened while driving it could be a problem. Should I be checked too?

Should pregnant women drive? What if they go into labor early and cause a wreck?

How come we're not calling everybody's doctor and asking them to run drug tests?

These are just some things that have been in my mind all night.

I once watched an old man in the DMV renewing his license. He couldn't read the eye chart for starters. They kept upping it a line. Finally I heard him say "E."

They granted him a license, he was leaving and fell down on the way out. Then he dropped his keys. And drove home.

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:55 am

RedGlitter;661797 wrote: I've really been thinking about this whole topic. I can go either way on it so far. I don't like the diabetic thing because that seems like the DMV has to "police" your personal business. What do they do for epileptics for example over there, Dubs? Offhand I can't think of any other medical condition to ask about...but their checking up on you seems discriminatory and invasive to me.

And I'm a diabetic too, not sure if that has anything to do with why I feel that way though. Expanding on that, where does it stop? I have degenerative arthritis in both ankles thanks to a birth defect and my driving ankle freezes up on me, and hurts badly when that happens. If that happened while driving it could be a problem. Should I be checked too?

Should pregnant women drive? What if they go into labor early and cause a wreck?

How come we're not calling everybody's doctor and asking them to run drug tests?

These are just some things that have been in my mind all night.

I once watched an old man in the DMV renewing his license. He couldn't read the eye chart for starters. They kept upping it a line. Finally I heard him say "E."

They granted him a license, he was leaving and fell down on the way out. Then he dropped his keys. And drove home.

Thats terrible Red, when i'm at my worse I am unable to drive, so if the Dr or DVLA took that as a ball mark I wouldn't have my license now, but when I have my good days i'm fine to drive. I think there could be so many complication's due to health issues, but I think a general re test every 5 years would be a good starting point.

dubs · Post by **dubs** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:06 am

Red, Here's a link to the UKs medical driving standards...

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/medical/aagv1.pdf

I know as a diabetic, if I recognise the early signs of hypo when driving, (touch wood, that's never happened, I'm a bit obsessive about controlling it) then I would have to stop, move to the passenger seat and remove the ignition key. If you didn't do this, the Police can prosecute you as driving under the influence of drugs!

pinkchick · Post by **pinkchick** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:08 am

SuzyB;661795 wrote: I agree with Woppy, every 5 years would be a good bench mark, wonder how many people would fail?

I agree with Suzy and Woopy.......... I've only been drivimg for 3 years but there really are some eejits out there on the roads:rolleyes:

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:24 am

Testing would be good but I say make the test really hard. Lay it down heavy. If I were king there would be a trigonometry test. A sit up test, a test on Arabic numerology, the inner workings of Swiss watches and other stuff.

el guapo · Post by **el guapo** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:38 am

SuzyB;661795 wrote: I agree with Woppy, every 5 years would be a good bench mark, wonder how many people would fail?

about 95%

to pass your driving test does not mean you are a good driver it means you drove how they wanted on that day

but with driving over years you pick up habit that would be a fail

but you also learn to contol a car far better than you could have when you 1st passed ya test

jess the driverholic

and over here ya get to retake ya test if ya act like a muppet on the road within 2 years of 1st passing ya test

think its 2 but if im wrong im sure some one will let me know

minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:44 am

I say mandatory testing every 5 years indeed.

I agree with El Taco.

And you bet we get lazy and complacent over the years as drivers.

What harm could come of it.

el guapo · Post by **el guapo** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:48 am

minks;661905 wrote: I say mandatory testing every 5 years indeed.

I agree with El Taco.

And you bet we get lazy and complacent over the years as drivers.

What harm could come of it.

but not a full test

a short one just to check they have not gone all mumberly

minks i love you

minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:50 am

el guapo;661908 wrote: but not a full test

a short one just to check they have not gone all mumberly

minks i love you

maybe so El Taco, but why not a full one, it ain't that bad, I mean lord knows I would fail, I can't parallel park to save my life ahahahaha

Ok kind of an upgrade test I spose huh. That could work too. (not parallel parking testing then that is my vote)

Aw shucks Taco I luvers U too.

el guapo · Post by **el guapo** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:27 am

minks;661911 wrote: maybe so El Taco, but why not a full one, it ain't that bad, I mean lord knows I would fail, I can't parallel park to save my life ahahahaha

Ok kind of an upgrade test I spose huh. That could work too. (not parallel parking testing then that is my vote)

Aw shucks Taco I luvers U too.

the 30 something me would drive circles round the 17 year old me but would i pass the same test i think not

woppy71 · Post by **woppy71** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:33 pm

el guapo;661898 wrote: about 95%

to pass your driving test does not mean you are a good driver it means you drove how they wanted on that day

but with driving over years you pick up habit that would be a fail

but you also learn to contol a car far better than you could have when you 1st passed ya test

jess the driverholic

and over here ya get to retake ya test if ya act like a muppet on the road within 2 years of 1st passing ya test

think its 2 but if im wrong im sure some one will let me know

I believe it is the case that if yet get 6 or more points on your license during the first 2 years, you have to re-take your test.

Perhaps another idea might be to make people take an advanced test after 6 months, where perhaps they have gained enough experiance to enable them to pass it. I think that any new system of improving the driving standards has got to be a good thing.